Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Monday 3 July 2017

Kittel’s Tour win contrasts with cycling’s dirty past

By ANDREW DAMPF Thomas said. “The weather nizers refused.
AP Sports Writer didn’t help things at all.” So Ullrich showed up on
LIEGE, Belgium (AP) — The In the sprint, Arnaud De- his own account instead
thriving current state of mare of France finished in Korschenbroich, a town
German cycling stood out second and Andre Greipel along the stage route.
in sharp contrast to the of Germany crossed third in “The image of cycling and
sport’s dirty past during the a banner day for Germany. also the way people see it
second stage of the Tour A day like this would have now has changed. They un-
de France on Sunday. been unthinkable just a few derstand this is a sport that
As Marcel Kittel rode to- years ago when German had a very tough time, a
ward a commanding sprint TV stopped broadcasting very big problem with dop-
victory to conclude a leg the Tour because of a se- ing,” Kittel said. “They also,
that began before large ries of doping scandals. I think, understand that this
crowds in Duesseldorf, Ullrich was suspended in is a sport that always has to
Germany, disgraced 1997 2006 in the fallout from the pay attention to this heri-
champion Jan Ullrich stood Germany’s Marcel Kittel celebrates as he crosses the finish Operation Puerto blood- tage and that we are ac-
by the road as an uninvited line to win the second stage of the Tour de France cycling doping scandal in Spain tively trying to work on it.”
spectator. race over 203.5 kilometers (126.5 miles) with start in Dusseldorf, and he retired a year later. As Kittel rode through Dues-
“It makes me really, really Germany, and finish in Liege, Belgium, Sunday, July 2, 2017. There were also scandals in- seldorf, he was close to
proud to see that this sport Associated Press volving prominent German shedding tears over the fan
is now well accepted again Geraint Thomas held on to could happen. riders like Patrick Sinkewitz turnout.
in my home country,” Kittel the leader’s yellow jersey. “Someone slid just a few and Stefan Schumacher. “It was a really touching
said. “There was definitely Froome was near the front wheels ahead of me and at Even Erik Zabel, the popu- moment,” he said. “And a
a time where not so many of the peloton when a Ka- those speeds you just can’t lar rider who still holds the memory that I will never for-
spectators were standing tusha rider ahead of him avoid it,” Froome added. record of six green jerseys get.”
next to the road. And those lost control coming around “A few of us went down in the Tour’s points classifi- There were more emotions
who were there were show- a sharp turn with about 30 but thankfully everyone is cation, admitted to doping at the finish, when Kittel
ing signs with EPO syringes kilometers (20 miles) to go. OK and we got to the finish after he retired. dropped to the ground
or other (stuff).” The domino reaction also alright without losing any These days, a new genera- and started crying.
Without any teammates in took down last year’s run- time to our rivals. That’s the tion of German riders led by “It was a big goal to start
the final 500 meters (yards) ner-up, Romain Bardet. main thing.” Kittel and Greipel — who in Germany and win at the
of a mostly flat stage con- Froome’s shorts and several Having won the opening have won 21 Tour stages end of that stage,” he said.
cluding in Liege, Kittel layers of skin were torn and time trial Saturday, Thom- between them — plus four- The Tour remains in Belgium
wisely stayed on his rivals’ he had to change bikes as as remained five seconds time time trial world cham- for the start of Stage 3 on
wheels before bursting three teammates paced ahead of Swiss rider Stefan pion Tony Martin and clas- Monday, a 212.5-kilometer
ahead at the final moment him back to the peloton. Kueng in the overall stand- sics specialist John Degen- (132-mile) leg from Verviers
for his 10th career stage “I have no injuries thank- ings. kolb, have drawn German to Longwy, France, that
win in the Tour. fully. I’ve just lost a little bit With a 10-second bonus, fans back. passes through Luxem-
Meanwhile, three-time of skin on my backside,” Kittel moved up to third The Tour of Germany, which bourg. The rolling leg fea-
champion Chris Froome Froome said. “That’s the overall, six seconds behind was canceled in 2009, is tures three fourth-category
had to work hard to catch nature of the race. We Thomas. slated to return next year. climbs and two third-cate-
up with the main pack af- knew it was slippery con- Froome is sixth, 12 seconds While Kittel and other Ger- gory climbs, including one
ter falling to the pavement ditions and every time you behind. many riders had cam- at the finish. It should set
amid a mass crash on a put the race numbers on “It was stressful. You kind of paigned for Ullrich to be up well for punchy riders
wet corner. there’s a big risk something forget what the Tour is like,” invited by Tour organizers like Verviers native Philippe
Froome’s Sky teammate to Duesseldorf, race orga- Gilbert.q
AP Source: Ibaka, Raptors agree on $65 million, 3-year deal

By TIM REYNOLDS, en. Ibaka agreed to terms offseason moratorium ends Dwane Casey said when Towns, Kristaps Porzingis
AP Basketball Writer with the Raptors on a three- on Thursday. the trade was made. and Brook Lopez.
When Toronto got Serge year contract with $65 mil- The 27-year-old Ibaka was Toronto clearly hasn’t He was sent to Toronto by
Ibaka before the trade lion, a person with knowl- traded to Toronto from Or- changed its thinking. Orlando, in exchange for
deadline last season, the edge of the negotiations lando late last season. He Ibaka is one of only 13 play- Terrence Ross and a first-
Raptors made clear that told The Associated Press. averaged 14.2 points and ers in NBA history to make round draft pick — a big
they had no intentions of The person spoke Sunday 6.8 rebounds in 23 games 100 3-pointers and record price that would have
letting him walk away this on condition of anonymity with the Raptors. 100 blocks in the same sea- looked even bigger if the
summer in free agency. because the deal cannot “His style of play fits our style son; he did it last season, Raptors had lost Ibaka for
And now that’s been prov- be signed until the NBA’s of play,” Raptors coach along with Karl-Anthony nothing this summer.q